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JER7177
Guest
Beginning to read books regarding Eastern Catholic/Orthodox spirituality and the like, what are the 10 most essential books on Eastern Catholicism/Orthodoxy in your opinion and why? Thank you!
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ByzCathCantor
Guest
The Face of God
by Archbishop Joseph Raya
by Archbishop Joseph Raya
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Anything written by Fr. Alexander Schmemann
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WoundedIcon
Guest
The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware
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dzheremi
Guest
I can’t think of ten, but one that everybody should definitely read is St. Athanasius’ “On the Incarnation”. It’s very concise (well under 100 pages), but unsurpassed in its clarity and strength.
Also recommended are the writings of St. Ephrem the Syrian. I have a small book called “A Spiritual Psalter, or Reflections on God, together with the Life of St. Ephrem” collected by Theophan the Recluse. This is an English translation from an earlier Russian translation, put together in psalm format and quite readable as a result. But you really can’t go wrong with any St. Ephrem.
And finally, the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are absolutely invaluable. Without hyperbole I can say that finding them when I did really changed my life. I have the Benedicta Ward translation from the 1980s, but there are others. Go slow with them, as the pilgrims who would have originally heard them did, and you’ll benefit immensely. Other than the Bible and the Agpeya (the Coptic book of the hours), this is the one book I find myself turning to most often. Its depth is limitless.
Should you develop a particularly close devotion to any particular saint, you could try to find their biography. I took Shenouda as my baptismal name in honor of St. Shenouda the Archimandrite of the White Monastery, so of course I have become especially attached to him through reading his biography written by his disciple, St. Besa.
Also recommended are the writings of St. Ephrem the Syrian. I have a small book called “A Spiritual Psalter, or Reflections on God, together with the Life of St. Ephrem” collected by Theophan the Recluse. This is an English translation from an earlier Russian translation, put together in psalm format and quite readable as a result. But you really can’t go wrong with any St. Ephrem.
And finally, the Sayings of the Desert Fathers are absolutely invaluable. Without hyperbole I can say that finding them when I did really changed my life. I have the Benedicta Ward translation from the 1980s, but there are others. Go slow with them, as the pilgrims who would have originally heard them did, and you’ll benefit immensely. Other than the Bible and the Agpeya (the Coptic book of the hours), this is the one book I find myself turning to most often. Its depth is limitless.
Should you develop a particularly close devotion to any particular saint, you could try to find their biography. I took Shenouda as my baptismal name in honor of St. Shenouda the Archimandrite of the White Monastery, so of course I have become especially attached to him through reading his biography written by his disciple, St. Besa.
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Celticnovice
Guest
I like The Way of the Pilgrim.
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GaryTaylor
Guest
This one I’d like to read.
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Axiosaxiosaxios
Guest
Without a doubt, The Philokalia is probably the best way to understand the prayer of our tradition. However is deeply spiritual and so if you are looking for more of an intellectual/academic exercise it may not be the best for you.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
I second ByzCathCantor’s recommendation of The Face of God, and would gladly recommend anything/everything written by Archbishop Joseph Raya.
The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology is still by far my favorite introduction into the spiritual/prayer tradition of the Byzantine East.
The Philokalia is certainly good and ought to be read, but it is rather advanced reading for someone who is looking for an introduction into the East. I’d put that one off for a bit.
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh: An Introduction to Eastern Christian Spirituality and Prayer of the Heart: The Contemplative Tradition of the Christian East, both by Fr. George Maloney, S.J., are well worth the read and are two of my favorite books.
The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware are pretty much considered standard introductory texts today and are a must-read. I would also recommend his book The Inner Kingdom.
Another personal favorite of mine is Archbishop Joseph Tawil’s collection of writings Courage to be Ourselves, compiled and edited by Bishop Nicolas Samra and currently available through the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton’s publishing house.
On the Prayer of Jesus and The Arena by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov are fantastic texts that deserve a good deal of contemplation.
The Life in Christ and A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy by Nicolas Cabasilas are also classic texts.
Add to that St. Theophan the Recluse’s The Path to Salvation and The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to It and I think you’ll have a pretty good library of reading there.
The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology is still by far my favorite introduction into the spiritual/prayer tradition of the Byzantine East.
The Philokalia is certainly good and ought to be read, but it is rather advanced reading for someone who is looking for an introduction into the East. I’d put that one off for a bit.
Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh: An Introduction to Eastern Christian Spirituality and Prayer of the Heart: The Contemplative Tradition of the Christian East, both by Fr. George Maloney, S.J., are well worth the read and are two of my favorite books.
The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware are pretty much considered standard introductory texts today and are a must-read. I would also recommend his book The Inner Kingdom.
Another personal favorite of mine is Archbishop Joseph Tawil’s collection of writings Courage to be Ourselves, compiled and edited by Bishop Nicolas Samra and currently available through the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Newton’s publishing house.
On the Prayer of Jesus and The Arena by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov are fantastic texts that deserve a good deal of contemplation.
The Life in Christ and A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy by Nicolas Cabasilas are also classic texts.
Add to that St. Theophan the Recluse’s The Path to Salvation and The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to It and I think you’ll have a pretty good library of reading there.
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theistgal
Guest
Although she writes more for a popular audience and isn’t what I’d call theologically “deep”, I’d recommend one of Frederica Mathewes-Greene’s books (At the Corner of East and Now, The Jesus Prayer, etc.) as reader-friendly, easy-to-understand, and non-polemic (is that a word? it’s early! 
) introductions to the concepts of Eastern Christianity. 
) introductions to the concepts of Eastern Christianity.
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Bran_Stark
Guest
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